LicenseTaxiSzczecin
Taxi license in Szczecin 2026: step-by-step guide
May 30, 20268-minute readPodpin Research Team
TL;DRSzczecin is a border city — about 150 km from Berlin, and part of the Bolt, Uber and FreeNow demand ties into traffic toward Germany and to Szczecin–Goleniów airport (SZZ). The passenger-transport (taxi) license here is issued by the Mayor of Szczecin (Prezydent Miasta Szczecin) through the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Szczecin. From filing to decision the average wait is about 21 days, and the all-in cost is around 740 zł plus 100-300 zł for incidentals. Below is the breakdown. If you want to start faster, you can drive on a fleet partner's license without dealing with the office yourself.
Short answer in four numbers
~620 zł
all-in cost
5-year license + all certificates
~21 days
approximate wait
from filing to decision
5 years
validity
minimum tier, same price up to 15 years
Polish cat. B
mandatory since 2024
swap non-EU licenses at WORD Szczecin
These numbers assume "first time, all from scratch" in Szczecin, 2026. If you already have medical certificates or a clean criminal record on file — less. EU/EEA citizens file certificates plus a Polish or EU cat. B license. Confirm exact fees and the timeline on bip.um.szczecin.pl or with Urząd Miasta Szczecin — administrative rates can change.
What changed in 2024 (national rules)
The reform ("Lex Uber") tightened rules across several fronts and applies the same in Szczecin, Warsaw and across Poland. Older guides on Google are outdated. The key points:
- A Polish category B license is mandatory. Under the amendment in force from 17 June 2024, commercial passenger transport requires a Polish driving license. Ukrainian, Belarusian, Georgian and other non-EU licenses no longer work. Exchange yours at WORD Szczecin (Wojewódzki Ośrodek Ruchu Drogowego), sometimes with a re-test of theory and practice.
- Platform driver verification. From 1 October 2024 platforms (Bolt, Uber, FreeNow) must verify the driver's identity and documents in person. Remote registration without checking originals no longer works.
- Minimum age 21 plus driving experience; clean criminal record — for offenses against life and health, sexual freedom, and traffic safety.
- Medical and psychological exams from authorized practitioners (occupational doctor / transport psychologist). Lists are on the Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomeranian) voivodeship office website.
- The passenger-transport license itself has been mandatory since 2020 — it is not new in 2024. The 2024 reform added the Polish-license and verification requirements.
- The topography exam was abolished across all of Poland from 1 January 2020 (the last exam was held in December 2019). If a blog claims you must pass a Szczecin topography exam — it's outdated info.
- For non-EU citizens a general requirement of legal residence and the right to work in Poland applies — confirm the exact set of status documents with the office, not blogs.
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Drivers already working had a transition period to swap licenses for Polish ones. Now any roadside check or platform verification without current paperwork = platform block + fine.
Who specifically needs the license in Szczecin in 2026
Different services, different rules. Here's the table:
| Activity | Taxi license | PL cat. B |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt / Uber / FreeNow (car) | Yes | Yes |
| Yellow taxi | Yes | Yes |
| Bolt Food / Uber Eats / Glovo (car) | No | Yes |
| Bolt Food / Glovo (bicycle) | No | No |
| Bolt Food / Wolt (50cc scooter) | No | AM or B |
| Cargo up to 3.5 t | No (different license) | Yes |
Couriers on bicycles or scooters don't need a license — but if you plan to side-gig as a taxi driver in Szczecin on weekends, you need it upfront, even for 1 ride per week.
Full document checklist
Gather it all before going to the Szczecin office — saves at least one wasted trip:
- Wniosek o udzielenie licencji — passenger-transport license application. Downloadable from BIP Szczecin or filled in on-site. Available via ePUAP if you have a profil zaufany.
- Copy of Polish cat. B license (or EU/EEA equivalent). Non-EU licenses must be exchanged for Polish ones before filing.
- Zaświadczenie o niekaralności (KRK) — clean criminal record certificate, valid up to 30 days. Online via e-KRK for 20 zł, or in person for 30 zł.
- Orzeczenie lekarskie — medical certificate from an authorized occupational doctor. Cost: 150-250 zł.
- Orzeczenie psychologiczne — psychological assessment from an authorized transport psychologist. Cost: 150-300 zł.
- Proof of payment — license fee receipt (200 zł for 2-15 years) + wypis (~2 zł per car, 1% of the fee). Pay to the Gmina Miasto Szczecin account.
- Proof of legal residence for non-EU citizens — confirm the exact set with the office, as status requirements differ.
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If you'll drive a rented car — also include a copy of the registration document and a rental agreement. If your own — proof of ownership + OC insurance covering commercial use. Confirm the exact document set on bip.um.szczecin.pl or with Urząd Miasta Szczecin — forms and attachments are updated periodically.
Total cost — every line item (approximate)
Full "all-in" cost for Szczecin 2026, 5-year license, one car. The license fee is national and depends on the validity period:
Total license cost end-to-end, zł
License (5 years)200 zł32%
Wypis for 1 car2 zł0%
Niekaralność (e-KRK)20 zł3%
Medical exam200 zł32%
Psychological exam200 zł32%
zł · License fee by validity period
200
250
300
2-15 lat
320 zł
15-30 lat
380 zł
30-50 lat
450 zł
Lifehack: pick 5-15 years on first application. Same price (200 zł) as 2 years, validity 2-7× longer. Wypis for each additional car — separate fee, +11% of the base (≈22 zł); the wypis for the main car is 1% (≈2 zł).
Step-by-step plan: zero to license in 3 weeks
Done in parallel (2-3 items per day) — realistic 14-21 days. One after another — 4-6 weeks.
1
Step 1. Exchange license for Polish0-30 days (skip if already Polish)
If your license is non-EU/EEA — book a WORD Szczecin slot for the exchange. 1-2 week lead time. Cost: 100-200 zł exchange + 100-300 zł sworn translation. Do this first.
2
Step 2. Check residence status1 day
For non-EU citizens — make sure you hold a valid right to legal residence and work in Poland. Confirm the exact set of documents with the office in advance so you don't get stuck at filing.
3
Step 3. Book medical exams1-7 days
Authorized occupational doctor and authorized transport psychologist — both have queues. Book immediately. The exam itself takes ~2 hours. You leave with the orzeczenie same day.
4
Step 4. Niekaralność via e-KRKSame day
Visit ekrk.ms.gov.pl, log in via profil zaufany or MOJE-ID, pay 20 zł, download PDF. No profile? — Sąd Rejonowy Szczecin (KRK point) with passport + 30 zł.
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Step 5. File the application at Urząd Miasta Szczecin1 day (visit)
Go to the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Szczecin with the full document set. Fill in the wniosek. Pay on-site or show the transfer receipt. The clerk verifies and assigns a case number. Check the exact address/department on bip.um.szczecin.pl.
6
Step 6. Wait for the decisionapprox 14-30 days
The office verifies the criminal record, status and documents, sometimes asks for clarifications. The ready license plus wypis for the car are issued together.
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Total: parallel work — 2-3 weeks and 580-780 zł. If you want to earn right away — consider starting on a fleet partner's license while your own is being issued.
Where exactly to apply in Szczecin
The passenger-transport (taxi) license in Szczecin is issued by the Mayor of Szczecin through the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Szczecin. Approximate details (confirm on bip.um.szczecin.pl):
- Urząd Miasta Szczecin — main site szczecin.eu, documents and forms — on bip.um.szczecin.pl
- Transport license matters are handled by the relevant city department — check the exact department name and address in the BIP (the structure is occasionally reorganized)
- Citizen service offices (Biuro Obsługi Interesantów) operate at several locations across the city
- Office hours are usually Mon-Fri; walk-in queues are possible — book a slot
Online via ePUAP: with a profil zaufany you can submit the wniosek electronically. Originals still need one in-person visit for verification.
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Tip: book your visit slot online through the office's system to skip the queue. Before the visit, check the current document list on bip.um.szczecin.pl — more reliable than any guide, including this one.
Frequently asked questions
Answers that didn't fit in the main text:
Can I drive Bolt/Uber while waiting for the license?
No on your own license until it's issued. But you can start on a fleet partner's license — the legal and fastest way to begin driving while you sort out your own.
Does a Szczecin license work in other cities?
The passenger-transport license works across all of Poland. No need to redo it for trips to other cities. Carrying passengers across the border into Germany is a separate matter — check the rules for international transport.
What if I had a license in Ukraine/Belarus?
Doesn't count. The Polish license is a separate document, issued by Polish standards only. Foreign driving experience does count toward the requirement.
Topography exam for Szczecin — yes or no?
No — topography was abolished across all of Poland from 1 January 2020 (the last exam was in December 2019).
Is the license tied to the car or to me?
To the carrier. But wypis is a separate document per car. Change the car — renew wypis for ~2 zł (1% of the fee).
Where exactly do I file documents in Szczecin?
At the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Szczecin. The current address and department name are on bip.um.szczecin.pl; we deliberately avoid naming a specific room because the city structure changes.
How much does the license itself cost?
The fee is statutory and the single-gmina rate (Warsaw: 320/380/450 zł): 200 zł for a 2-15 year term, 250 zł for 15-30 years, 300 zł for 30-50 years. Confirm the exact amount at filing time with the office.
Can I start driving this week?
Yes — via a fleet partner: you drive on their license while getting your own in parallel. Partner catalog — on Podpin.
Common pitfalls — where weeks and money disappear
From real driver experiences obtaining the license in Szczecin in 2024-2026:
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Pitfall #1 — counting on Germany-bound traffic without a Polish license. Szczecin sits by the border, but you can only carry passengers in Poland on a Polish license and Polish driving license. Fix: sort everything out the Polish way first, then think about cross-border rides.
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Pitfall #2 — medical certificate from the wrong doctor. Only authorized occupational doctors licensed to examine professional drivers count. A regular family-doctor visit doesn't. Fix: the list of authorized doctors is on the Zachodniopomorskie voivodeship office website.
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Pitfall #3 — Ukrainian/Belarusian license without exchange. Since 17 June 2024 non-EU licenses don't work for commercial transport. Fix: WORD Szczecin exchange takes 4-8 weeks plus money. Put it at the start of your plan.
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Pitfall #4 — outdated address/department from an old guide. The structure of Urząd Miasta Szczecin changes and the application intake point can move. Fix: before the visit, always verify the department, address and document list on bip.um.szczecin.pl, not in a year-old guide.
Waiting for the license — but want to drive now?
Podpin lists fleet partners in Szczecin: start on a partner's license while your own is being issued. Filter by partner, read real driver reviews, transparent terms.
Sources (May 2026): BIP Urzędu Miasta Szczecin, szczecin.eu, ustawa o transporcie drogowym (Dz.U. 2001 nr 125 poz. 1371 as amended; amendment in force from 17.06.2024; driver verification from 1.10.2024), e-KRK. Important: the exact department name, the office address and the precise license fee should be verified with Urząd Miasta Szczecin / on bip.um.szczecin.pl before filing — these details change and are given here as approximate. Medical exam prices — averaged across Szczecin occupational-medicine centers.